I used AmazonFresh to order groceries to my door next-day - here's how the service works

I appreciated being able to buy a single cucumber online, the same as in person. Since I only cook for myself, it doesn't make sense to do my groceries in bulk, even though that means frequent, inconvenient walks to the store.

I ordered on Wednesday and picked an early time slot for an attended delivery (meaning I'd be home to receive it) on Thursday morning, the soonest available delivery that included all the items I wanted.

Since I ordered more than $35-worth of groceries before tax (the NYC threshold), my order had free delivery. I also added an additional tip for the delivery person.

In comparison to local grocery stores, the prices were better on AmazonFresh, though my neighborhood prices aren't typically cheap comparisons either. Since you're able to shop locally online through AmazonFresh, you'll generally see the same margin of savings.

I used FreshDirect, an NYC grocery delivery service, to compare a few items with pretty average local prices:

• AmazonFresh: $5.99 for 16 ounces
• FreshDirect: $12.99 for 18 ounces

• AmazonFresh: $2.50 for 6 ounces
• FreshDirect: $3.99 for 6 ounces

• AmazonFresh: $4.14
• FreshDirect: $4.99

My order arrived within the timeframe chosen in these cardboard boxes, which were easy to fold down once my groceries were removed.

Everything arrived in the condition I'd expect — on par if not better than my standard local grocery store. However, my order of raspberries wasn't included. A container of six mini cucumbers and two water bottles were also included, even though I hadn't purchased them online.

I was able to request a refund for the missing item by chatting Amazon. Someone was immediately available on the line, and I had a refund issued within 10 minutes of beginning it.

I was given the option to get a refund or have the item sent to me, and a refund on my original card or on an Amazon gift card.

A common pushback against online grocery options is the idea that you want to touch and feel products like produce to make sure they're to your liking. But for someone like me whose busy schedule mirrors that of most other New Yorkers, the times I can get to the grocery store are often when my options are slimmest and the lines are the longest. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday when I need food for the week, the picked-over blueberries are a bit mushier than I'd typically choose to spend $6 on.

In this instance, AmazonFresh impressed me. The overall quality of the produce I got was above what I normally find in person — it was uniformly fresh, and neither bruised, mushy, or too ripe. Having said that, this may not be the case 100% of the time. Since you're not making the final call, there's still no guarantee.

All in all, it was a useful and reliable way to get all my groceries — not just pantry staples — delivered to my door. If the convenience of not shopping in person or the cumulative savings are valuable enough to pay $15 per month (plus an optional tip for the delivery person), this is a solid option. However, I did need to be flexible with some of my items (the raspberries). Getting a refund was easy, but you may not be willing to risk it if you're putting on something more formal than dinner for one.

At least for now, I plan to keep using the service post-trial for the reasons I've stated and because the Amazon interface has become so natural that I'm able to navigate through it quickly and efficiently. Plus, it's nice that it's all one billing system.